Help!!!!

[spiritwolf46]

My scarlet chested has double clutched! I am hand feeding her babies, which is not just a little over a month old, and she is laying eggs on the bottom of her cage already!

What should I do?

Any suggestions????

Thank to all in advance!

[Lori~D]

get busy! well, I dont know what else to tell you. In the instance of wanting to stop the laying cycle after she laid a clutch what did you do? Did you shorten her daylight hours at all? This will help. Make sure she gets her calcium. Are they fertile maybe? You can always addle them if you do not want more babies.

[spiritwolf46]

Originally Posted by Lori~D

get busy! well, I dont know what else to tell you. In the instance of wanting to stop the laying cycle after she laid a clutch what did you do? Did you shorten her daylight hours at all? This will help. Make sure she gets her calcium. Are they fertile maybe? You can always addle them if you do not want more babies.

We never lenghtened the daylight hours when she had her first clutch. We kept the hours the same, took down the box and I rearranged her toys and so on so this possibly may not happen. I expect it from my lovies, but this is so strange.

I got a hold of a breeder and they said to let her have them. I am afraid that she will be so tired, but I did pull the babies and hand fed them at 10 days old. I give them supplements, birdie bread with veggies and fruits, a fresh cuddle bone, egg buscuit, a mineral block and good fortified seed. (along with fresh fruits and veggies as they are in season).

If I addle them, will that keep her from ever wanting to have another clutch? I have heard that this happens sometimes.

Not sure if they are fertile, for there was only two laid, but I did put her nestbox back up (per the breeder I talked to). I truly hope that these will not hatch for her sake. I only allow them to breed once or twice (at the most) a year.

Thank you much for writing me back so quickly! I appreciate it very much!



Also, we found out that the momma of these babies and the babies (every single one of them have bright red and orange on their bellies) are red bellied Scarlets. I kept one of the babies, for I am going to have a breeder ship me the opposite sex red bellied.

I am leaving for a month in May to June for the birth of my newest granddaughter in Texas and did not set up a breeding program for any of my birds after the Scarlet babies were born. I knew that I would be here for them but my husband will not be able to handfeed while I am gone so I was going to wait for the rest of my birds for when I came back.

Oh well, I guess we will see what happens.

Thanks again SO much!

[spiritwolf46]

Should I take the box down or leave it up?

Sheeeesh this is so difficult. I feel so bad for her, but I am sure that she knew those two would not be fertile.

I just don't want her to over do it, but if I take the box down, won't she continue to lay?

TIA!!!!

[Abby]

Scarlets are seasonal layers. Double clutching is fine as long as you keep up the calcium with her. Once this lot are through I'd take the box out until next season. Now as far as you not being around, you could always just let the parents raise the second lot and give them some experience. If they can do it from start to finish then you know that they are capable if you have any issues in the future with being able to handraise.

One of the problems with handraising chicks is that once a batch are gone from the nest box the parents turn around and go, ok empty nest lets go again. There are a number of breeders who deliberately do it to increase number of babes.

My advice, relax, keep up the diet and maybe let mum raise this lot herself. Good experience for her. If she doesn't do so well then you know in future that you do have to raise them but I think at least give her a chance to prove herself with this second lot.

[amanda143]

I'm with Abby. This happened to us with our rosies this year. I prefer them to have a break but two decided not to take one! ha I'm going to go ahead and let them raise these on their own. They've never had their babies pulled before so I'm sure I confused them the last time. I think your guys will be ok. :D Good luck!